Giant Sequoia National Monument - North

About this campground

There are 13 giant sequoia groves located on the Hume Lake Ranger District, east of Fresno, California. Nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks also manage sequoia groves with similar practices for their protection. In the late 1800s, privately owned logging operations took place in Converse Basin. By 1908, they had thoroughly logged the area. Visitors can see remnants of this logging operation today and learn how entire groves were cut down before it was realized that cutting these magnificent trees bore no major financial gain. One of the famous giants, the General Noble tree, was cut, and sections were reassembled at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Today, visitors can view the remaining 20-foot “Chicago Stump” in Converse Basin. The trail to the stump is universally accessible. The Boole Tree is the last of the huge giant sequoias that had grown until the 1890’s in Converse Basin. It is the largest tree on National Forest System land and is recognized as one of the largest trees in the world. Indian Basin Grove is one of the few groves with a campground in it. Princess Campground has three campground loops - Shining Cloud, Yellow Moon, and Morning Star. It has the greatest number of huge, old Sequoia tree stumps and young Sequoia trees along with a pleasant variety of conifers. Shade is good throughout the campground; privacy between camp sites is fair to good. Princess Campground lies in the middle of Indian Basin Grove beside Indian Basin Meadow and Creek. Campfire talks and guided hikes occur most weekends from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.